GE liqhtina
makes"the
"
difference
oLP-10690
AALLASTS FOA
H,I D, LAMPS
GENERAL ETECTRIC
BALLASTS FOR HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMPS
High lntensity Discharge lamps are those which have a gaseous
discharge arc tube, operating at pressures and current densities
suflicient to generate desired quantities of visible radiation within
their arcs alone- These lamp types have become popular primarily
for two reasons:
1. High Efficiency more lumens per watt ot power consumed.
2. Compact source - permits good light control by use of reflectors
and refractors,
3. Long lamp lile and good lumen maintenance - Reduces operating expenses.
When mercury and metal halide lamps are started at low temperatures, less vaporized mercury is available in the arc tube to assjst
ionization. A higher starting voltage than that used lor starting at
higher temperatures is required. For example, a 400 watt mercury
lamp requires225 volts to start reliably at -20'F, whereas 190 volis
The three principal HID lamp types now in common qse are mercury, metai halide, and h igh pressure sodium (Lucalox@).
The relative efficiencaes in producing light are 50 lumens per watt
for mercury, 80 lor metal halide, and between 105 and 130 for high
pressure sodium-The best incandescent lamps produce only about
20 lumens per watt.
STARTING CURRENT
WHAT AND WHY A BALLAST
These H lD lamps have something else in common
- they all have a
negative resistance characteristic, which means they must have an
external device to limit the current when voltage is applied to them,
or else they will be quickly destroyed. A ballast is the device used
to limit this current.
ln addition the ballast provides suflicient voltage to start the lamp
and operate it in a stable manner. ln all cases the ballast serves
to match the voltage required for the lamp to the available line
voltage- This is done by a transformer which is an integral pan of
the ballast.
is sufficient for startinq at +50'F. The ballast must provide this
minimum starting voltage throughout its range of line volts. The
ballast nameplates or literature will usually indicate the minimum
temperature for reliable starting at the minimum line voltage lor
which the ballast is recommended. Ballasts for most outdoor
applications will provide starting down to -20'F.
current available to the lamp during the first half minute
or so of warm-up. lf the current is too low, the lamp may never
warm up. lf the current is too high the lamp lite will be shonened.
Thas is the
LAMP OPERATING VOLTAGE
For mercury and metal-halide lamps, the lamp operating voltage
is almost constant throughout life- Due to manulacturing tolerances, however, individual lamps may have a wide variation in
operating voltage. For example, the 400 watt mercury lamp has a
nominal operating voltage of 135 volts, but the voltage of a group of
lamps may vary from 120 volts to 150 volts. Depending on the ballast type, lamp wattage may vary considerably with the lamp voltage.
The operating voltage of a Lucalox lamp continues to increase
throughout the life of the lamp, and the ballast must be caretully
designed to minimize the change in lamp watts as the voltage
changes.
LAMP OPERATING WATTS
LAMP ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Several lamp electrical characteristics have an important effect on
ballasting, and should be understood before discussing the ballast
types.
An HID lamp will operate ai its nominal wattage only if the lamp
voltage and llne voltage is nominal. Theoretically, the total eflect
of these variables can cause the lamp watts to vary as much as
r2oo/o frcm nominal. However, due to the statistical distribution of
these variables, over 99o/o ot the lamps in a large group will vary no
more than 110o/o from nominal.
STARTING VOLTAGE
Mercury and metal halide lamps have Special starting electrodes
which permit them to start at relatively low voltages. The design
of the Lucalox lamp does not permit the use of a starting electrode,
so a special starting device is required to deliver intermittent pulses
of 2500 volts or more to ionize the gases in ihe arc tube and start
LAMP CURRENT CREST FACTOR
Crest Factor is the ratio of peak to R.M.S. value of the lamp operating
current. The lamp standards allow a maximum crest factor of 2.0
for mercury lamps, and 1.8 for metal halide and Lucalox lamps.
Too high a crest factor will accelerate lumen depreciation.
the arc-
GENERAL ELECTRIC COM PANY
Lighting Systems Business Department, Hondersonvillo, N. C.
GEl{ERAL
rrrCrnrC
-1
MERCURY BALLAST TYPES
There is a vartety oi mercury amp ballasis avai abe each having
certain unrque advantages and disadvantages
Thesmpestrnercllrybal astolal could be a plain resistor that can
im t the arnp current The electr cal efficiency is on y aboul 50%
since so much power s wasted in the res stor Aso suchasyslemls
very sensilive to line vollage dips, and a d p oi on y a lew percent
will extingu ish the amP
REACTOR BALLAST
reactor' lt is simply an inductive
the lamp, operated directJy from a line of
The sirnplest practical ballast rs the
in a"r,""
*ilh
a 'ow line
"nol" "Lit
uo,tuo". S 1ce lhls ( rrcJil s ^rqhlv l'ducl ve
po\tuer lacto'
",,i.or"
The
,s
oola''.ed
50oo
6r
apptotrmalelv
."*", L.i"i
may be correcied with an across-the-llne capacitor'
REAGI(lS BATT[$I
r------------
Its chiel appltcaton is for operalion on 120 vot clrcLlits, with no
power factor correction required
The lag ballast, available at 120 volts, has about the same virtues
and dr;wbacks as the reactor ballast lt is necessarily larger in size
than the reactor, and consequently is somewhat costlier and has
hrgher losses. lts disadvantages are the same as the reactor'
REGULATOR BALLAST
The regulator bal asl has primary and secondary wind ngs electrically is;lated from each oiher, and current lirnit ng is provided by
a c;pacilor rn series with the lamp. The capacitor makes it a lead'
circuit raiher than a lag circuit in some designs a separaie
''peaking capacitor Tnay be used to increase the open c rcuit volt
age lor iow temperalure starting The ballast is so designed that
th; secondary portion ol the core operates n magnetic saluration
lhe secondary cLlrrent remains essentially constant over a wide
ranqe ol primary voltage variations, providing excellent regulation
of the lamp wattaqe.
-1
BEGUTATllB BATTAST
-------1
I
I
I
I
ln its lavor the reactor ba last 1s low ln cosl and has low losses, and
s comparalrvely sma I and llghl lt inherent y provides good reg
ulation ol lamp walls with variat ons n lamp volls - about 30/o change
n lamp watts wLth 110/o change ln lamp volts. t has a very low crest
factor of about 1 4, and provides high starling current to lhe larnp
Ior fast warm uP
There are d sadvantages to the reactor' however lt has a low power
laclor un ess corrected by an expensive capacrlor' Lamp walls
varyl10o/owLthl5gochange nlrnevols ltcan only lreused on line
voliages which provlde re lable startrng and amp stability - this is
usuaily 240 volts or 277 volts lor the lower wattage arnps and 480
volts for the h gher wattage The lrne current is hrgher lor starting
than operat n9:whtch must be taken nloaccountwhen nslall ng
lLrsrng or c rcuit breakers Th s ballast w I lolerate ne voltage
drpso"lonlyaboul 150,b.ancj maybeas smal as 1O%ior hrgh voltage
Lamps. For reasons ol both cold weather starting and regulation'
is Lrse is I mited to lines where rso'b llne vo lage ls ma ntalned'
ln sprte ol rts drawbacks the reactor bal asl. properly app red,can
make a good relrable. ow cosl ghl ng nstallation
LAG BALLAST
The lag ba last n elfect cons sls ot an autotransformer p us a
reactor comb ned on a s nqle slructure Th s ba last glves per
formance srrarlar to lhe reactor, but wlth the capability of operalion
on other rne vollages
I
I
Any line voltage can be accommodated wilh this design Dual volt_
age ratrngs ar; avallable. such as 120 x 24o' ot 24o x 480 with the
p' -a'y coil( ' ornecled rn pdrallol or r1 ser es
Excellent regu ation 10r change in line voltage is prov ded by this
ba lasl Lin; voltage changes ol 1130/o wrll cause only 12 or 3o/o
change n amp waits The power factor, usuallyabout 95o/o is lnheren-ty good, and the lne current during slarting is always ess
than it;s"dur ng operation. Lrre voltage dips are no problern w th
this bal asi sinae rt will tolerale dips of aboui 500/0 for at least 4
seconds duralLon
The chref vrrtue ol the regulalor ballasl is ts ease ol appl cat on ll
can be installed on any circu t w th minrmum concern for I ne vollage variation. voltage drps, ground ng or {using, and will provide
good perforrnance.
AUTO-REGULATOR BALLAST
The auto-regulator ballast combines an autotransformer with the
regulator circuit. By using a portion ol the primary winding common
wiih the secondary, its size is reduced. Since only the secondary
winding contributes to good regulation, the degree ol regulation
depends on the amount of primary voltage coupled into the secondary.
AUIll-RESUtITOR
mG Bll-LA$T
BItt[$I
.."".
-"
tl
L-------------Like the reactor, the lag ballast has an inhereni low power Jactor
bui may be correcled by us ng a capacitor, operaling on an extended
highervoltagewind ng to savecapacitorcosts This ballast is seldom
miO" tooay lor high power factor operation since its addilional
cost puts rt in a price class with ballasts having better performance
The auto-regulalor provides lower cost size' and weight than the
regulator, a;d its losses are somewhat lower. lts regulation is very
oo;d.lhouqh sompwrat le"slhan lhe reg.rlator .lsJally aooul r50o
if"noe,n tr",p walls loI' I0oo cl'ange rn lrn'volts lt enloys lhe
othei regulator advantages, including good power lactor' low
line sladang currenl and good toleradce to line vollage dips
A disadvantage of the auto-regulalor compared to the regulator
ballast is its lack of isolation between its primary and secondary
winding.
BEGUI-ITIOil OT I.AMP
MtTfl.-ltAu0E "PEfl(-[Eilt" BAtuST
WAII$
RcgulatoP v$. Beactor
"\
- -
XI
/l
(EFFECT OF CORE SLOT)
-1\
I
'//
(!oslol)?F#|1.33";
)t
SLOT PROVIDS PEAK STAFTING
LESS BALLAST VOLT.AMP
HIGfi EN SUSTAIXING VOLIAGE
REOUCEO.OFF.TIME'
LOWEA CUARENT CREST FACIOR
9. RATED LIIIE VOLTS
This f gLrre shows lhe comparative overa reg!lation ol amp watls
Ior the reactor or lag ba lasl and the regLrlator ballast. Whi e the
change in lamp watts due to Ine voltage variation Iavors the
regulator, the change due lo larnp volts varlalion lavors the reactor.
The overa lmaxrmum poss ble change due to both calrses sabout
eqLra for the two types so long as each is used on c Tcurls recommended Ior ls a lowable ne vo tage range
SERIES BALLAST
The series baliasi consists simply oi a current transformer, with the
primary connected 1o the high voltage series circuit and the secondary connected to ihe lamp. The core has an air gap to limit the open
circuit voltage to prevent ilashover of the lamp or socket during
restarls after temporary outaoes.
The electrical circuit ot this ballast is ldentical to the mercury autoregulator. The blg dillerence is the magnelic circuit ol the "peaklead". A portion of the core under the secondary windrng conlains
one or more large slots, providing a ocalized reslriction and saturalion. This core siot produces a highly peaked wave shape of open
circuil voltage compared to the us!al sine wave OCV ol a mercury
ballast. lt is important to note that a mercury ballast with a peaking
capacitor, even thouqh it also provrdes a peaked OCV, will not work
with a metal halide lamp The peaked voltaqe disappears as soon
as the lamp fires, and the presence of the capacitor connected across
the lamp aggravates the arc instability on warm up and cycling
resuits.
The slot in the metal hallde ballast provdes a hlgh voltage peak
tor starting lhe lamp. lt reduces the RMS value of the open crrcuil
voltage which lessens the physical volt-ampere size of lhe ballast.
It provrdes a higher sustainrng voltage to the lamp so that it will
"ride
- through the warm up ionization deficiency wrthout ex
tinguishing the lamp. lt reduces the off-time of the lamp starting
cLrrrenl, the period duing the current wave shape where the currenl
dwells near zero for an appreciabie parl ol each half cycle, thereby
further improving lhe lamp stability. F nally, it provides the lower
crest factor required by the laanp for long life
The rnetai halide ballast usually provides regulatron somewhere
berween a regulator ballast and a lag or reaclor ballast. For a
110% lrne voltage change, the lamp watis wlll vary about 110%.
This ballasl exhibils most ol lhe other advantages of the regulator
ballast: high power factor, low line slarting current, and good
lolerance to line voltage dip
SERIES BALLASI
r-----------1
HIGH PRESSURE SOOIUM SYSTEMS
The high pressure sodium or Lucalox lamp.
ln the series circuit, the bailast isolates the lamp circuit frorn the
high voltage series circuit. lt also provides the necessary open
circuil voltage for cold starting of 1amps, lransforms the series
circuil current to the proper lamp current, and elimtnates the need
lor fi/m culouts since it automatically bypasses burnt out lamps
without circuit interruptions.
METAL HALIDE BALLAST
The metal haIde lamps beara strong family resem blance to rnercury
lamps, and their electrical characterist cs (operating volts and amps)
iiJ:J"J,"i::: :,;:: Ji"'i:li:?'";1:l* i,j ;"::.,:'l
o;::,:
fam.iy.
- rrelalrrc add lives. usLally ha rde compoLrnds o' ll-e todroe ":T:;
which give the lamp its unusually high lumen efftciency and color
characteristrcs. However, these rnetallic additives. due to the
nalure of their ionization phenomena, have two significant eifects
on the ballast requiremenls. F rst, a higher ballast open circuit
voltage is needed to start the arc al a specified temperalure.
Second, during the warm-up cycle, a period o{ low conduction characteristics ol the arc plasma occurs, and the retgn tion voltage requirements needed to reestablish the arc each half cycle exceed the
sustaining voltage normally avatlable kom a standard mercury
ballast. When a mercury ballasl is used with a metal halide lamp,
this condition exists and the arc will be extinguished, the lamp
i:;,'J',]""".Ji; ;:;]:l;
|ii" ffi .ilx :Tlii :}",':;ii:;J""fii"ff
salisfdctoflly
slarls
operale a new lamp
-n_ay
a few lhousand hours
lro.rble usually
afler
of operation.
To overcome these deficiences, a special ballasl type has been
developed lor the nietal-haiide lamp. This ballasl rs referred to as
a 'lead-peaked" or "peak lead ballast.
both n physical appear
ance and operating characterstics, is considerably diflerent fronl
the olher H.l.D iamp types Larger, and generally more costly,
ballasts are required for this lamp
Two characteristics ol the Lucalox lamp account for the principal
drtlerence rn ballasl requirernents The voltaae required to starl
the larnp rs much greater than that required for other H l.D types,
necessrtaling an aux iary starl ng circuit which supplies a high
voltage pu se of 2500 volts peak or greater Also, the lamp vollage
increases with age over a wrde range, and lhe ballast must control
lhe lamp walls with n a narrow range over the range ol lamp
voltaqe.
HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM BALLAST TYPES
REACTOR BALLAST
The reactor ballasl can be desiqned to qive satisfactory performance
with lhe Llcalox lamp. Used wllh appropriate slarting aids and
open circuit voltage, t will give reasonably constant waltage lo the
Lucalox lamp over the specrf ed range oi operatrng lamp volts.
BEICT|IR BAITIST TllR TUGIT||X
r---t
The 70,
1OO
and 150 watt reactors are suitable lor operation direct-
with a suitable auto'transformer for use on 208,240,277 and 480volt lines The250and400
wati reactors are suitable for operation directly on 208 volt system
but can be suppiied with a suitable auto-transformer for use on 120,
240,277 and 480 volt lines- The 1000 watt reactor is furnished
for use on 480 volt line only.
ly on 120 volt system but can be supplied
It should be noled how much more closeiy the lamp watts are con
trolled by this ballast, compared lo lhe reactor.
AUTO-REGULATOR BALLAST
This ballast is similar to the mercury auto-regulator, but has spe_
cial core slots and leakage reactance to provide the necessary opera-
tional characterjstics unique to the Lucalox lamp.
TUGII-llx REIGIOR BII.IASI
Lamp 0pcratin0
chanacterislics
AUIll-RECUTAIOR
EILTI$I
FOR
TUGII.llx
I
I
,l
lenr
(1oF
MORE)
The maximum and minimum lamp watts, and the maximum and
minimum lamp volts are specified by General Eleclric's Lamp
Division. The end ol lamp lile usually occurs when the lamp
voltage increases 1o lhe lamp dropout point, at which time the
The auto-regLrlator ballast may be operated on lines with
regulation, and gives lamp operation as shown below:
t10o/o
lamp will cycle ON and OFF at regLllar intervals.
MAGNETIC REGULATOR BALLAST
The conventional mercury regulator ballast is unsatisfactory for
Lrse with Lucalox lamps, since its constant current output characterislic causes the lamp watts 10 increase in direct proportion to the
chanqe in lamp volts. Operation on such a ballast would cause the
lamp lo reach end of-life quickly.
MlGf{ETIG nEGUUT0R
cBcuroaGRAM
IUTll.BEGUI.ITlln
tam
Bf,
LI.IST
0penatino Ghanacleni$tic$
Bltl.rsr r08 tuGll.0x
t-J,, ffi
,,[*il]
A magnetic regulator ballast is available for 100, 150 and 400 watt
Lucalox lamps which not only compensates for the change in lamp
vollage, but corects for variations in line voltage This ballast is
lhe equivalenl of a vollage regulating transformer supplying the
lamp through a reaclor, with all the elements combined on a single
core and coil.
8ITI.A8I
[amp 0psralhg GIanactsnlstlc
MASTETIG REGUTITOR
This type of ballast is available for 250 and 1000 watt Lucalox
lamps lor all standard voltages.
LUCALOX LAMP OROP-OUT
At nominal lamp volts, the line voltage dip required to extinguish
these lamps is about 2jolo lot lhe reactor ballast, abolt 500/0 for ihe
magnelic regulator ballast, and about 35% lor the aulo-regulalor
ballast. As ihe lamp voltaqe increases toward end ot life, ihe tol_
ance to line dips decreases considerably.
LIGHTING SYSTEMS CHARACTERISTICS
. Extinction Voltage - all power systems are subject to dips n the
H.I.D. BALLAST CHARACTERISTICS
line voltage as loads are switched in and out, or as other lransient
condilions occLrr A good, strff, welFregulated distribution circuit
will seldom see voltage dips of more than 10%, but on some circuits, dips of 20-3oo/o may be encountered occasionally. lf the ballast is not capab e ol "riding through 'the voltage dip and sLrslain-
. Size - physical size and weight are ot prirnary importance to the
luminarre manufacturer who must fit lt lnto his producl. lt may
also be important lo the user who wants an externally mounted
hallast
1o the user's power b lljust
as much as the useful watts consumed by the lamp The user
whose principal interest is cost ol light might well conslder us ng
a simpler ba last and sacr fice some ballast performance for improved operal ng elficiency. Nlnety percent effciency means
thal g0o/o of the power is rnakinq I ght and 10% is heating the ballasl. Genera ly, lor a particLrlar type of ballast, the higher the
lamp wattage rating, the higher the efficiency.
. Efficiency - watts loss oi a ba lasi add
Line Current - on some ba last types the ine currenl as the lamp
starts is less than the fina operatlng current, so that luses and
c rcuit breaker ratings can be based strict y on the operating current va ues. For other ballasts, the lne starting current may be
considerably higherthanthefina operatingvalue sofuses,circuit
breakers,and P.E. control switches must be sized to accommodate
this higher current. For fusing practice see footnote 4, Pg. 7.
.Power Faclor - to be classed as high power factoa a bal ast
must have a power factor oi at least g0%. Anylhing ess is consrdered Normal Power Factor" or "Low Power Factof Most
ba lasts which are normal power lactor are down around 5070
This means that a normal power factor ballasl has almosl tw ce
the line current as a high power lactor ballast, and makes less
a'rLrFnl Lrse o{ lhP orsl'rbJlto^ sycl'^ l's rpo-lres arqP wlle
sizes, larger switches circutt breakers, and distributon translormers for the equivalenl connected load.
ing the lamp, the lamp w ll extinguish and recycle. Most commercial ballasts will tolerate at least 150/odips,and should cause
iittle or no trouble on we I regulated circuits.
ng sorne local codes require grounding of the
lamp socket. Th s is feasib e only wrth ballasts which have the
primary and secondary windings complete y isolated from each
. Circuil Ground
oiher.
Line Voltage Regulat on - this is the change in lamp watts due to
lrne voltaqe variation. Consideralion should be g ven to the variation in line voltage to be expecled on a particular system where
HID larnps wiLl be applied to insure that the regulating capabilily
of the ba last s malched to the regLriation of the power system A
majority of modern power distribuiion systems are regulated to
operaie between 150/0 of nominal line vo tage, a though systems
are occasional y encountered which rnay vary as much as 10% or
more from nomina. Recenl power shortages have occasioned
'brown-outs in some areas, which cou d create a lamp starting
problem with those bal asts designed for 150/o operatlon. ln any
case, the expected regulatron of ihe power system line voltage is
an mportant consideration n bal ast selection
. Lamp Voltage Regulation _ this is the change n lamp watis due
to lamp voltage variatons. Genera ly a bal ast which provides
good regulalron lor lne votage gives poor regulation 10r lamp
voltage, and vice versa.
Ballast Electrical Data
a separaie component
listed below will vary
values
floodlights,
the
luminaires
or
in
Power-Pack
typg
mounted
encapsulated,
or
When these components are
depend ing upon tho 6nclosure being used, lamp position and lamp variations. The component value melhod ol testing is r-lsed in order
that unitorm testing procedures may be followed on all ballasts.
The bailast etectricaldata listed is typicalof that obtained when the ballast is tested under laboratory conditions as
ELECTRICAL DATA (Approximats)*
Typical values when operating a nominal lamp of the
(Nz)
Dp
I,ERCURY BALLASI_R.gUI.Io] Typc
100
H3a
60
6
5
3
120
208
18
208
11
208
210
.9
.8
,5
208
208
208
25
290
97
97
98
15
290
9S
1.3
290
290
98
9
98
480
1
60
H39
277
l]37
29,0
60
440
120
204
400
H33
60
244
277
480
120
204
240
277
480
60
H33
120
208
700
H35
50
277
4ao
120
208
244
11
t1
2.4
2.O
1A
290
460
460
460
460
460
10
75
43
38
33
885
885
865
1.9
635
72
36
885
7U
784
3.1
H36
I000
60
480
18
120
2@
240
9.4
277
EnCURY
97
97
91
133
133
133
133
133
124
208
240
4.1
480
21
2.2
1102
1102
1102
1102
1102
97
9T
9T
97
97
96
96
96
96
96
99
99
99
99
99
96
96
96
96
96
99
99
3
3
2
1
.5
3
2
.2
,8
2
1.8
r.0
9
50.60
2.1
1.1
1.0
.9
5
I
.6
2A
1.2
99
10
99
127
50
3.0
203
51
SALLAST-L.g Typc
H38
100
60
H39
175
250
60
124
't20
60
120
3.4
4.9
120
13
H37
H33
60
285
54
53
6/
106
15 20
Ballast Electrical Data
(Hz)
Op
MRCURY BALLAST-Auto-regulator Typ
Fr39
1g
124
175
1l
2AA
I
I
240
480
250
60
H33
60
60
H36
tTIERCURY
1
1
1
2
1
6o
92
35
453
92
92
2.0
453
453
453
92
92
1.5
9
5.6
4.9
42
24
1080
1080
1040
1080
1060
93
93
93
93
93
96
96
96
96
244
21
480
11
18
480
r000
453
271
120
204
13
12
42
24
277
H36
21
13
1.5
244
2119
244
96
2119
277
3.3
2119
1r
208
48
1@
H38
60
H39
175
60
A3T
250
60
H33
400
60
H35
H36
H36
H36
700
r0m
1000
r
500
6o
60
@
60
240
217
240
277
240
277
.8
12
10
19
240
2n
480
1.6
1.7
2.4
40
480
35
440
11
13
40,50
3T
32
2.0
93
85
115
115
190
190
271
271
433
436
1067
2105
1580
92
92
92
92
92
92
93
96
94
94
9
.8
't2
18
16
1t20
3.1
23
20
3.0
2.5
55
Typ. (t{ormrl Pow.r F.ctor)
H38
100
60
240
H39
175
60
240
I
1.6
277
1
t137
250
60
240
22
19
H33
400
60
240
3.4
3.3
H35
7m
60
480
31
ll36
1000
115
115
190
190
271
271
745
4.3
53
16
55
14
26
23
34
51
3.0
54
52
45
1+20
49
49
51
5.9
42
3T
38
2.1
AALLAST-Rcrclor Typo (Normtl Pow.7 Faclot)
LU-70
70
60
124
165
2AA
440
1.2
1.0
.9
.55
12A
22
240
277
204
l6
277
1.4
1.2
480
LU,150
r50
60
208
244
33
22
19
480
10
120
1.7
LUCALOX BALLAST-Ractor Typo (Hlgh Powcr
LU,7O
70
60
r00
60
12A
208
240
42
3T
22
95
480
120
1.1
2m
62
.54
32
480
tt-2*
120
208
240
241)
4@
60
60
1000
60
12
11
2A
2.4
1.8
15
43
43
43
.9
4.2
2.4
26
2.1
1.3
Orr
+5
93
94
34
92
95
95
94
r70
125
l il
io
55
16
171
1.0
2u4
240
204
200
300
290
300
300
308
252
15
9
8
480
124
2@
240
120
96
97
't1T
140
140
1.3
a2
72
140
271
2@
240
LU,1000
37
38
r96
82
277
150
94
96
98
116
135
135
136
138
170
201
196
198
.75
240
LU-150
81
Fectodtt
277
292
292
BALLAST-Reactor Type (Hlgh Powr Fector)tt
iTERCURY BALLAST--4erclor
LUCALOX6
214
9
.75
65
.5
92
92
92
92
2.6
124
208
2to
1.5
92
92
92
292
292
124
204
240
210
210
210
2T
15
13
13
22
95
95
95
92
97
95
90
95
21
r8
457
2TT
480
11
412
23
1075
133
115
9l
91
92
91
34
1.6
1.1
I
50
26
26
2a
13
23
1r20
Ballast Electrical Data
LUCALOX BALLAST-Regulalor Type
LU
60
]OO
125
90
96
244
217
61
9A
53
98
98
120
208
214
175
120
2AA
.31
LU ]50
150
60
10
120
204
240
217
Lr.t.400
201
202
45
242
5
5
3
95
95
99
99
99
99
4A2
142
442
23
20
95
95
95
241
142
40-50
18
r0
LUCALOX BALLAST-Aulo-regulalor Type
LU 250
2s0
124
29
2aa
240
277
15
307
301
1.5
307
13
307
307
480
LU 1000
1000
60
58
50
244
5
5
2
rr30
r0o
120
204
92
92
92
92
92
1130
r 130
1130
277
36
32
94
95
2A
METAL HALIOE BALLAST-Auto-regulalor Type
124
208
240
18
277
480
.8
5
124
204
25
290
13
294
294
294
294
t5
244
277
480
11
120
458
458
458
2Aa
244
2A
458
480
18
10
12A
63
208
24A
277
480
4.8
890
895
895
124
96
55
277
400
1000
9a
98
93
96
97
95
95
95
95
95
92
92
92
93
11
240
1500
24
124
1,1
85
2AA
214
32
1a
16
13
63
36
32
27
93
93
93
93
93
99
99
99
99
99
95
95
95
21
277
480
3l
18
r6
454
42
36
204
9
6
5
95
(Hr)
MERCURY BALLAST-Sorie3
H38
H39
B3T
H33
H35
100
175
2at
700
60
&
60
60
60
23
33
66
66
76
66
66
66
6.6
124
190
LamD watiaoe of a lamp can vary a lolal ol approximalely 4 percent (3 percenl lor
lhe two- amp 400 watl and s .g e ampl000walt) lo. the fiercury reg! alor &lasts; 15 percenr (a tolal oJ 12 percent lor the two-lamp 1000 walt) lor the meF
curv aulcreqllalor i10 percenl lor lhe mercury lag merc!ry reaclor and melal
ha rde alto req! alor ba las1s. when npli vo tage var es over the percenl allow'
ab e line vollaqe var al on range The vo Iage ot high-pressu.e sod um
(Lucalor!) lamps chanqes with lamp rte ca!s n9 conespo.drng dranges in lamp
watls. so thal the regulal on cannot be staled n the same lerms as lor olher H 0
lamplypes.Al Llcaloxba ast types overlhelul range ol allowable inevotage
varalon . control amp warls wrlhin lhe prescribed I'm'ls ol operanon lhroulhorr rr6'orpo I'rd or lr. d lp d- oelned o/ 'dpezoodl rnr- ANS,srdndaros
lor H gh Pressure Sod !m lamps
Mercury reaclor ballasls lsled in waltage 100 to 400 may be used al 50 Hz as
lolows: 277 volrs (60 Hz) at 250 volls {50 Hz) and 240 vo ts (60 rlz) at 220 vo ls 150
For
125
wl
80
030
84
86
33
r20
207
435
65
r078
sl
stan.g to 20
All ballasls
Fusng: Not reommended as proleclion lor ndvdua HID ballasl ll specilied,
luse(s)sho!ld be raled3limes maximum cL(enl. Fusinq maycausenu sance nleF
r!ptions. Thetusing oi a reaclor type ballasr should be avo ded.
provde
siactory lamp
30 F lor Llcalox)
m nimum over lhe recommended linevo tage vanalro.
'To obtaln lypical llne waxs lor umnares add
tKrlowarls
ol
constant current tra.slormer capac
approx malely
ly per
3 percenl Io
above
ba lasl recommnded ror
itNole lhal th56 c!renls are power laclor caFcilor cuiients wh .h llow I the lamp
draws no c!nent, lor examp e hol restari condil ons. Normal llne slad ng coifent
oatd bFc a.4.e-^
further information, see American Nationai Standards lnstituie {ANSI) specilications C82.4, C82.6, and C78.1300.
'a
GENERAL ELECTRIC BALLAST CIRCUITS AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS
Circuil
Diagram
Line
Volls
Crest
lnput
Vollage
lnpul
Power
Starting
Range
Factor
Culrenl
Voltage
Faclor ot
Dlp
Ballasl
Lamp
(4 8ec.)
Losses
Currenl
15-2oo/o
Low
1.41 - 1.5
15-2oo/o
Low
1.41 - 1.5
240 & 277V
for 100W
Through
400w, 480v
Higher
Than
+5o/o
500/0 Lag
lor 700
Operating
Current
& 1000w
Slightly
Higher
Same as
NPF
Than
x5o/o
90o/o
Reactor
Operating
Current
E
R
ua
alllttT
her
Than
120V
H ig
for
'100w
x5o/o
50% Lag
Through
400w
Operating
Current
Higher
15-200k
Than
Reactor
1.41 - 1.5
A
M
Slig htly
Lower
Any
Voltage
40-500/o
U nder
Regulalor
1.A-2.O
50-60o/o
Highest
1.8 - 2.0
Than
l 0o/o
90%
Operating
Current
Lower
Any
Voltage
tvl
Than
t13o/o
950/o
Operating
Current
EA
Equ ivalent
Lowe r
T L
Any
Voltage
to
Than
1100/o
9oo/o
LD
Operating
Current
40-5OP/o
Mercury
Regulator
1.6-1.8
E
iucroi tftutr r$ Ltcltlr
Any Voltage
Higher
(Furnished
Than
complete
with AutoTranslormer)
+5o/o
90%
Operating
Cu rrent
Equiv.
to
15-2oo/o
Mercury
1.4- 1.5
Regu lator
L
U
tllffrc ftel'rrd 
